One of the firm beliefs of Organized Chaos is that you do NOT buy products to solve clutter problems until after you know exactly how much of something you have to store. Buying a new container because it’s “cute and can surely be used for something” is like throwing gasoline on a campfire. That cute container has now just become part of your clutter problem instead of the solution!

Gift Wrap Closet–Before

This belief was reinforced during one of this week’s projects for a whole-home organization. Our client had purchased an Elfa system from The Container Store for gift wrap, but then did not follow through with setting it up to be a storage solution; thus, it had become part of the clutter.

Gift Wrap Closet–After

After emptying the entire closet contents, grouping like things together, and adding a few missing components (a drawer organizer, melamine tops, label holders, and labels), this closet is a gift-wrappers dream! We were also able to use some bins that had been emptied in other rooms for storage solutions. Now, in this gift wrap closet, everything has its place, and there’s a place for everything.

If your space has more problems than solutions, click here to schedule a complimentary needs assessment. We look forward to organizing your chaos!

If you’ve ever looked into hiring a Professional Organizer, you may have noticed that many of them recommend working in three- or four-hour increments. If you follow us here or on our Facebook page, you may have seen tips instructing you to set a timer for 15, 20, or 30 minutes to tackle some of your clutter. We can hear you now, “Wait a minute! Three or four hours for the professionals but only 15 minutes for me? Please explain!”

There are a few factors that explain the time recommendations and why they are different:

When you are faced with an overwhelming amount of clutter to tackle on your own, it is recommended that you set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes to focus on a portion of the clutter regularly, either each day or week… whatever is going to work for you. The smaller amount of time is recommended so that the task doesn’t seem so impossible. If it was recommended that you schedule four hours per week to catch up on filing paperwork or clearing out the master closet, you may decide (and possibly already have) to keep living with the clutter longer instead.

When you invest in a Professional Organizer, you’re not only investing in their time, you’re investing in their expertise and skill. There is preparation time put into each appointment. It’s a better investment in their time if you have their help for a “chunk” versus one or two hours. It’s also a better use of their time if they prepare for a four-hour job than if they prepare for two separate two-hour jobs. And of course it saves on their fuel cost for traveling to your location.

By selecting a Professional Organizer who specializes in your organization challenge, i.e. garages or paperwork, the value of those three- or four-hour sessions increases exponentially as they are able to do so much more in less time.

A byproduct of investing in a Professional Organizer is that you also acquire organization skills through the process.

Of course, no matter how much time you devote to getting organized, it’s better than none at all. So if that kitchen counter is driving you crazy because it’s covered in clutter, set a timer now for 20 minutes and do what you can. Or, if you’re ready to not only get the clutter off of your counter but also get your kitchen organized to avoid the clutter in the future, call us. As always, we look forward to organizing your chaos!

Have you ever used something for a completely different use than intended? This picture was taken on a day we were organizing during a warmer time in the south. The plasticware was definitely a different yet effective way to keep my hair off my neck.

Thinking outside the box greatly contributes to finding organizing solutions. I always tell my clients before we begin helping them, “Do NOT purchase any products for storage or solutions. You never know what we will find that will fulfill the purpose.”

We love taking something and using it for a new purpose. One of my favorite solutions for a client was for her files. Using a table as her desk space left her with no drawers for her files. We needed a filing cabinet. However since the office shared space with a daybed in a guest bedroom, adding a steel cabinet would not be visually appealing, and a wood one would cost more than we wanted to spend. Enter a toy chest that the client’s grandfather built for her when she was younger. You read that right … a toy chest. You can see it in the bottom right corner of the above picture.

By simply setting a file frame inside of it, we were able to convert the toy chest, without any physical alteration of the chest itself, to a great storage space for the client’s files. The finished product is shown at the right.

Another great piece to use for thinking outside the box is the armoire. A business client was storing various items including office supplies in her office armoire. However, using it to house office supplies just wasn’t working well for her. The supplies and other items had become a messy pile in the bottom of the armoire. By adding a small piece we found at a hobby store, we were able to make this armoire store office supplies and then some!

Since this client did not use her printer often, the armoire being used to hide her printer was an added bonus for her.

But what about the armoire that you’re keeping (and dusting) only because it belonged to your great uncle Roy? Don’t give up on its usefulness just yet!

A home-organization client had a gorgeous trio of armoires that she was using to store excess bed linens and pillows. However, an extreme amount of space was left vacant rendering it ineffective. We added 2 sets of quick-assembly shelves purchased at Wal-Mart for $15/set. We also used the same type of shelving intended to hold shoes, but again, for a different purpose. These inexpensive additions provided us with the ability to break up the massive interior space in the armoires and use them to house the client’s handbags, purses, and large tote bags. Here’s a close up of the result:

The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Your solutions for getting organized just might be right under your nose. If you don’t think so, give us a call. We’d love to help!